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Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

"Durable (will last virtually forever, can be eaten by wax moths etc.)"

Just to be sure, didn't you mean can not be eaten by wax moths?

Would they [and queen] more readily accept HSC if some drone foundation, or a place for them to satisfy their desire to raise drone brood is provided? This drone brood would be monitored and cut out of course. I have not used HSC.

Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

Yes, "cannot". Sorry. The reason for the delay in acceptance is the plastic. PermaComb is the same material and I have used it wax dipped (heated to 200 F, dipped in 200 F wax and the excess shaken off). When it is wax dipped it is accepted like any drawn comb without any hesitation whatsoever. Drones are a different issue. I don't monitor drone comb, I don't cut it out and I don't cull it. I let them have all they want with foundationless frames.

Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

Honey super cell saved my first hives last year. The bees refused to draw on plastic foundation, even with an extra coating of wax. The original nuc frames were welded into one solid mass and the bees were building swarm cells. I seperated the original combs and scraped them down to a reasonable size, coated supercell frames with wax and gradually replaced all original frames. With the supercell, the bees filled three deeps and would have filled a fourth deep had I given it to them. I firmly believe supercell has a place in the brood nest, if not for wider applications.

Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

Just curious if those who have used HSC 4.9 cell size in the broodnest have noticed any decrease in mite activity as compared to normal cell size hives? Or is the only benefit of HSC is that it is already drawn and can last forever? John

Re: What's your opinion on honey super cell?

With HSC the bees do not need to draw comb. I have not used chemicals in my hives yet. By splitting and making nucs from second year hives, my hope is that this will continue. I keep my fingers crossed.